Good egg or bad egg?

Well, there’s only one way to find out…stick it in a bowl of water and see what happens! Yes, you may have heard this trick before, but have you ever wondered how this can determine how fresh an egg is? Okay, let me explain…

Egg shells are porous, meaning they have teenie weenie little holes in them allowing gases to flow freely in and out as they please. At the wider end of an egg, there is a small air pocket which forms soon after an egg is laid. Over time, the egg loses moisture through the porous shell and shrinks, which causes the air pocket to increase in size. Since water is denser than air, an older egg, which contains more air, will cause it to want to float in water rather than sink.

Fresh eggs will completely sink and sit horizontally.

Older eggs will sink but tilt upwards.

Stale eggs will float.

What are the best uses for my eggs?

Fresh eggs hold their shape well once cracked, so are much easier to separate- perfect for making meringues or for use in other recipes that separating the yolk from the white. They’re also good for poaching and frying!

Older eggs are perfectly fine for use in general baking. If you’re not into baking, you can always use them up in an omelette or scrambled egg…just make sure you use them up fairly quickly!

Stale eggs are not so good for anything, so unfortunately it’s best to dispose of these…better to be safe than sorry.

If you ever come across a bad egg, trust me once you crack it open you’ll know about it!

Have you got any more questions about eggs? Let me know in the comments below!